A good luck message

[ruby]

Hello to all

Could anybody help me with an e mail i am writing to a spanish friend. He is preparing to do a speech on teaching practices, in Granada next week ,and I helped him with the pronunciation of the transcript in English.
I am not familiar with the greetings of writing in Spanish, I would like to wish him good luck with the presentation and remind him not to be too nervous and to be himself. I am not sure how to start the e mail, other than hola mi amigo (i think this is too informal as we have only just met) and i don't know wether Abrazo would be too formal, as an older gentleman i don't want to come across over friendly but warm.

an ever hopeful Ruby

[poli]

Originally Posted by ruby

Hello to all

Could anybody help me with an e mail i am writing to a spanish friend. He is preparing to do a speech on teaching practices, in Granada next week ,and I helped him with the pronunciation of the transcript in English.
I am not familiar with the greetings of writing in Spanish, I would like to wish him good luck with the presentation and remind him not to be too nervous and to be himself. I am not sure how to start the e mail, other than hola mi amigo (i think this is too informal as we have only just met) and i don't know wether Abrazo would be too formal, as an older gentleman i don't want to come across over friendly but warm.

an ever hopeful Ruby

In Spanish estimado is a common and normal salutation in a letter.
It can be used in place of dear in the opening of a letter whether or not the person is very esteemed or dear
You could say : que tenga(s) buena suerte en su (tu) presentación.
Espero que quedes (quede) calmado y natural.

[sosia]

Poli's options are good

Estimado Poli /Querido Poli
Te deseo mucha suerte con la presentación que vas a realizar.
Si no te pones nervioso y eres tú mismo seguro que te sale bien.

Muchos recuerdos
Ruby

[poli]

Would it be OK to say: que ten coraje, or does that sound funny.
I know that among some Latin Americans tener coraje means audacity or
more commonly the nerve or even more commonly but vulgarly the balls.

[sosia]

Your usage of coraje is good, but is more used in difficult situation, I don't know if a normal presentation is so "hard". When it's the first one, or in a very important meeting, then yes.
"espero que tenga coraje como para someterse a una operación"
"espero que tenga coraje suficiente como para hablar ante tanto público"
"espero que tenga coraje como para enfrentarse a su familia"
saludos

[CrOtALiTo]

I think you can use this word for wish him a good day or only for salute him, I give you a examples of as you can start a letter for your friend.

Hola, querido amigo espero que estes bien.

Buenos dias o Noches te escribo esta carta para desearte suerte.

Hola (nombre), te deseo lo mejor y espero que puedas concluir lo que te propones.

I hope these examples can to be of helpful for you, and I hope your friend have good luck with his test.

[Jane]

Originally Posted by sosia

Poli's options are good

Estimado Poli /Querido Poli
Te deseo mucha suerte con la presentación que vas a realizar.
Si no te pones nervioso y eres tú mismo seguro que te sale bien.

Muchos recuerdos
Ruby

Could she also use `Saludos´ en vez de `Muchos recuerdos´ or is it too formal?

Forgive the spanglish.

[sosia]

"Saludos" is also OK, but I prefer "muchos recuerdos" for friends.
I use saludos (like "greetings") for commercial friends.
I don't "remember" or "pienso en " commercial friends.

Saludos

[María José]

Originally Posted by sosia

"saludos" is also ok, but i prefer "muchos recuerdos" for friends.
I use saludos (like "greetings") for commercial friends.
I don't "remember" or "pienso en " commercial friends.

Saludos :d

meany!:d

[María José]

Originally Posted by ruby

Hello to all

Could anybody help me with an e mail i am writing to a spanish friend. He is preparing to do a speech on teaching practices, in Granada next week ,and I helped him with the pronunciation of the transcript in English.
I am not familiar with the greetings of writing in Spanish, I would like to wish him good luck with the presentation and remind him not to be too nervous and to be himself. I am not sure how to start the e mail, other than hola mi amigo (i think this is too informal as we have only just met) and i don't know wether Abrazo would be too formal, as an older gentleman i don't want to come across over friendly but warm.

an ever hopeful Ruby

I know my forum mates and bussiness partners (this one's for you Sosia ) have already helped, but I would like to add my .
The truth is I'm exam-correcting and answering students' mails and text messages and although I love talking to them I need a break. And this sounds like fun.
Having what you said in you post in mind,I would write something like:
Hola (Name):
Espero que estés bien. Estoy seguro de que la conferencia va a salir muy bien. Ten en cuenta que las personas que acuden a esos eventos tienen mucho interés y seguro que les enseñas algo nuevo.
No te pongas nervioso aunque estés hablando inglés, simplemente intenta ser tu mismo y olvidar que estás usando una lengua que te resulta un poco más difícil que la tuya.
Te deseo mucha suerte.
Un saludo,
(Your real name)
Hope it helps.